Bali Prepares to Regulate Local Fruit Sales

New Regulations to Compel Hotels to Use Local Fruit Produce and Ban Imports

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(2/23/2013)

The Jakarta Post reports that the province of Bali plans to propose specific bylaws protecting the market for local farmers by controlling the sale and consumption of local fruit.

The measure is seen as needed to curtail the use of imported fruit products, much preferred by locals and oftentimes sold at Bali markets for less than their local counterparts.

Bali’s governor Pastika said. “I strongly support the council’s initiative to prepare a draft bylaw for the protection of local fruit.”

The new bylaws, once promulgated, will address the sale of fruit and require the Island’s hospitality industry to purchase local produce.

“We encourage the participation of all stakeholders on the island, including hotel managements, restaurant owners, supermarket managements and the people, as well encouraging them to adopt the regulations stipulated in the proposed bylaw,” said Pastika.

The governor sees the bylaw as needed to protect local farmers and to help reduce poverty on the island.

“It has been a great challenge for us to think about optimizing our surplus fruit harvests. The planned bylaw is expected to regulate the trade of these fruits,” he said.

The new bylaws will also be designed to support the “Bali organic program” that is encouraging organic farming practices among the Island’s agriculturists.

Justifying the new laws, Pastika said: "Our local fruits are delicious and vary in type. Many tourists are actually more interested in tasting tropical fruit while they are on holiday here."